Carrot and Yogurt Salad/Carrot Raita

There are some days when you crave just simple and flavorful food. Something easy to make and no messy clean up. We had a Girl scout camp on the week-end. Although we didn’t stay overnight, the activities were enough for me to get up late on a lazy Sunday. I spent a long time wondering what would be the easiest dish to make for lunch. Finally around 11, I decided to go with a simple Vegetable Pulav and this Carrot Raita. Raita needs only a few ingredients and can come together no almost no time at all.

Raita is a side dish in Indian cooking. It generally accompanies whatever main vegetable or meat that is being cooked. It always contains yogurt and has a cooling effect to the spiciness of the main dish. The original dish is supposed to be sour and sweet at the same time. The sweetness comes from the Carrots and the sourness comes from the Yogurt. Most households in India make their own yogurt every day. the yogurt is a bit sour to taste than the one found in U.S. If you are in India and using homemade Yogurt, I encourage you to add a dash of Sugar to the dish. If you are in U.S., the Yogurt is sweet enough so do not add additional sugar.

Ingredients: Serves 3

Carrots preferably organic 2

Yogurt 1 1/2 cups as per your taste

Cumin Seeds 1 tsp

Red Chilies or Red Chili Powder (optional)

Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp

Oil 1 1/2 tsp

Salt per taste

Pepper 3 rounds of pepper mill

Cilantro for garnishing

Directions:

Wash the Carrots and pat dry. Gently peel the outer layer of the carrots.

Grate thinly as shown in the picture

Whip the Yogurt and add it to the Carrots and mix well

In a small saucepan, heat oil.

Once moderately hot, lower the heat slightly and add Mustard seeds. Wait for a minute or so for the Mustard seeds to crackle

Add Cumin seeds and Red chilies and wait for about 40 -45 seconds

Pour this hot oil on the Carrot and Yogurt mixture

Add Black Pepper, Salt and Sugar (see note above about adding Sugar)

Mix well and serve with Rice or Roti. As I mentioned before this is usually served as a side dish with a vegetable or Meat curry but you can have it just with a simple Vegetable Pulav /Spiced Rice. It is flavorful enough to eat with plain rice as well.